To Repair Your Roof or Replace?

by Varun Rana ·
Published November 28, 2017
· Updated November 29, 2017

Life is full of tricky decisions. Do you choose the French fries or a salad? Do you take the freeway or go the back roads during peak hour? What time of year do you book your trip to Thailand for? We are bombarded by decision-making tasks every single day of our lives. Sometimes to correct answer is apparently, but sometimes we can’t seem to make a decision one way or the other – each option seems as good as the other.

If you are finding yourself stuck in the decision of whether to repair or replace your roof, then this article might be helpful in guiding you in one direction or the other. Follow along to see if we can help you out!

How Old Is Your Roof?

While many people won’t know the answer to this question – you will likely have not been in your home that long – thinking about the current age of your roof is important. Firstly, what is your roof constructed out of? If it is made out of tiles or slate, then your roof may last from 50+ years, depending on the quality of the tiling itself and the application. For metal roofs, you’ve looking at around 40 to 80 years. And if it’s fibre cement this will be around 25 years. If your roof is long in the tooth, then a full replacement is generally a good idea.

What Are Weather Conditions Where You Live?

While as a country, Australia is known for being warm and sunny, and not for its wild weather, that’s not to say that it doesn’t exist in various parts of the country. Sydney’s storms are a thing to behold, and the harsh conditions in a wild storm, battered many times on your roof might lead to earlier degradation of your roof than it would in other parts of the country. Your roof may wear all over (indicating a roof replacement), or it may wear just in one or a couple of patches (indicating repairs).

Can You See Cracked, Missing, Or Buckling Pieces? How Many Are There?

Roofs don’t always wear the same all over like we just mentioned. If you have noticed some cracked, missing or buckling pieces of your roof, it’s best to get a roofing expert to examine if this extends to other patches of your roof. You may not have a clear view of your whole roof, after all. If it’s just in one or a couple of spots, then a repair job will probably do the trick, but if it’s more extensive a reroof may be necessary.

Is Your Metal Roof Rusty?

Unfortunately, if your metal roof is looking rusty, it’s generally the time for reroofing, unless it’s just in a very small, localised area. A new metal roof will have intrinsic rust protection if you choose top choices like Colorbond or Zincalume for your roof. Rust cannot just be cleaned off; it is eating away at the metal itself.

If you decide to reroof, then you can also change up the material of the roof itself. Consult with a roofing company to determine the best material to construct your new roof out of. Make sure to choose a reliable company that is known for their roof installation experience.

If it’s just a little bit of damage, then they will be able to advise you on how to repair your roof as efficiently as possible, as well as guard against further and future damage. Get an expert in for their opinion on the matter, and you can put that decision making to rest!